Category Archives: Tennessee

Starting packing the inside of the van for the last travel day and arrival home. This involves folding up our small chairs and putting them away, rolling up the back door panels, pulling the sheets out of the ‘bedding system’ and gathering up all the laundry along with general packing up to make it easierContinue reading “Day 13: on the road to home part II”

Given that this is the post-Thanksgiving weekend, we anticipate traffic on the interstates to be quite heavy. We gave ourselves two days to get home. The second one being a Monday. We have about 250 miles to cover today. Last night’s campsite was just south of the TN/VA border and we will leave TN quiteContinue reading “Day 12: on the road to home part I”

Norris Dam State Park is just near Rocky Top. TN. I needed say that song has been going through my head since we got here yesterday. This morning I just had to find it on Amazon Music and play it.  The banjo playing in the Buck Owen’s version is amazing. This trip has conjured upContinue reading “Day 11: Rocky Top, TN to Warriors Path State Park”

There was a little bit of rain overnight but it stopped just about the time we got up. It has been mostly overcast today with temperatures in the high 50s. We had no agenda today, mainly cross country driving and viewing the country side. It’s the day after Thanksgiving and things are quiet. We returnedContinue reading “Day 10: old Stone Fort to Norris Dam”

Last night was a beautiful evening. We sat outside until it was almost dark, had showers followed by a light supper of soup, cheese and crackers and a walk after dinner for the first time on this trip. I have finally found time to do some reading for myself other than book club books onContinue reading “Day 9: Thanksgiving Day, to Fall Creek Falls”

Gorgeous morning. Our campsite is on a hilltop overlooking Huntsville, AL. While the temperature is still in the 30s it didn’t go below freezing overnight. I have to admit, the hour difference threw us off a little. Because we are so far east in this time zone, it was dark by 5 pm. We didContinue reading “Day 8: Huntsville to Old Stone Fort State Park, TN near Manchester”

Today we planned to visit Chattanooga, TN and the Chattanooga Choo Choo station museum then head towards Huntsville, AL where we would visit the US Space and Rocket Center tomorrow. That was the plan anyway. Chattanooga The iconic Choo Choo sign was installed in 1972. Chattanooga was a major hub for industrial + passenger railway services inContinue reading “Day 7: Chattanooga to Huntsville, AL”

We left our friends this morning having packed up in sub-freezing temperatures. We are travelling west towards Tennessee this morning. Our early morning route took us through the Natahala National Forest along the Natahala River, a mecca for white water rafting. Nantahala National Forest The Nantahala National Forest lies in the mountain and valleys ofContinue reading “Day 6: Maggie Valley to Harrison Bay TN State Park”

Cheroke, NC is the Indian Reservation at the NC entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This morning we visited the Museum of the Cherokee Nation to learn more about this population that was ‘removed’ by US President Andrew Jackson from their home territories in the US south east to Indian territory west ofContinue reading “Day 5: Cherokee, NC”

Friday noon we met our friends for lunch in Ashville, NC, home of the famed Biltmore Estate, for lunch. It was sunny and cold. Our Air BnB in Maggie Valley for the weekend is literally at the top of a mountain up a tortuous twisty road. Fortunately we don’t have to drive the van backContinue reading “Day 3,4: Great Smokey Mountains National Park”